Parasites. 285 



The female is a little longer and bigger generally. One 

 end of the male is drawn out into seven somewhat 

 stunted filamentous processes continuous with the ali- 

 mentary traft. And it is with these sucker-like protru- 

 sions that the parasite clings to the mucous membrane 

 of the intestine and obtains the nutriment necessary for 

 its existence. On examining a piece of intestine which 

 has been affe6ted with these parasites, there will often be 

 observed to be several minute raised spots of congestion 

 indicating where the parasites have been imbibing, and 

 aptly comparable to so many leech-bites. 



With regard to the life-history of these entozoa, I think 

 it is extremely probable that it is precisely identical with 

 that of the Ascaris lumbricoides^ that is to say, that it is not 

 necessary for the anchylostome in any stage of its exis- 

 tence to pass through the body of an intermediary animal ; 

 but that if its ova are imbibed in drinking water, their 

 shells are capable of being dissolved by the a6lion of 

 the gastric juice liberating the embryos which are 

 then able to fully develope themselves. JONATHAN 

 Hutchinson, however, suggests that it may be a de- 

 velopment of the Dochmius trigonocephalus of the 

 dog. 



The Trichocephalus dispar or whip-worm is common, 

 but not nearly so common as the round-worm and 

 anchylostome, in British Guiana. NORMAN Chevers 

 in his Diseases of India says that he recollefts only 

 having met with it once in India and thought it to be 

 imported. I have met with it very many times here in 

 the post-mortem room, and usually the cases contained 

 several specimens of it. The anterior two-thirds of the 

 body is faliform, terminating in a mere point, the posterior 



NN2 



